JP2010158922A - Front structure of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable water to be separated more effectively from outside air supplied to an intake air duct. <P>SOLUTION: A front structure of a vehicle includes a bumper face 1, in which an outside air introducing opening 2 is provided, and a support member 30 arranged at the back side of the bumper face 1. The support member 30 has a volume part 40 for separating water from air approximately at the central region in the vehicle width direction. The support member 30 also has an introducing path 41, which is connected to one end side in the vehicle width direction of the volume part 40 and which takes in outside air from the outside air introducing opening 2 and introduces the outside air to the volume part 40. The support member 30 furthermore has an intermediate path 42, which is connected to the other end side in the vehicle width direction of the volume part 40 and which leads the outside air in the volume part 40 to an intake air duct 50. A plurality of drainage holes 45 are formed in the bottom part b of the volume part 40 at intervals in the vehicle width direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a front structure of a vehicle.

  In vehicles, particularly automobiles, a support member is often disposed on the back side of the bumper face in order to compensate for a decrease in rigidity associated with an increase in the size of the bumper face.

  In addition, in order to supply intake air to the engine, outside air from the outside air introduction opening formed in the bumper face is passed to the intake duct of the engine via an introduction path formed between the bumper face and the support member. It is also being led.

The outside air introduced through the opening for introducing outside air often contains water, and particularly when traveling on a flooded road or during heavy rain, there is a situation where a large amount of water is introduced into the introduction route along with the outside air. It becomes easy to do. For this reason, Patent Document 1 proposes forming the introduction path with a bumper face and a support member at a position as high as possible above the radiator shroud and forming a drain hole at the bottom of the introduction path. ing. That is, the one which made the introduction path itself function as a volume part for air-water separation is disclosed.
JP 2008-189280 A

  By the way, the introduction route described in Patent Document 1 has a short route length to the intake duct and a relatively small volume, so that the air-water separation function is not necessarily sufficient.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a vehicle front structure that can more effectively separate water from outside air supplied to an intake duct. is there.

In order to achieve the above object, the following first solution is adopted in the present invention. That is, as described in claim 1 in the claims,
In the front structure of the vehicle including a bumper face provided with an opening for introducing outside air, and a support member disposed on the back side of the bumper face,
The support member is provided with a volume portion for air-water separation in a substantially central region in the vehicle width direction,
The support member is connected to one end side in the vehicle width direction of the volume portion, and is provided with an introduction path for taking in outside air from the outside air introduction opening and introducing outside air into the volume portion,
The support member is connected to the other end side in the vehicle width direction of the volume portion, and is provided with an intermediate path for guiding the outside air in the volume portion to the intake duct,
A plurality of drain holes are formed at the bottom of the volume portion at intervals in the vehicle width direction.
It is like that. According to the above solution, the outside air introduced from the outside air introduction opening of the bumper face is sequentially guided to the intake duct via the introduction path, the volume part, and the intermediate path. At this time, since the volume part for the air / water separation is formed in the center region in the vehicle width direction of the support member, the volume part can be sufficiently large, and the air / water separation function in the volume part can be achieved. It can be raised enough. In addition, the fact that it can be formed as a large volume portion is also preferable for improving the rigidity of the bumper face by the support member.

A preferred mode based on the above solution is as described in claim 2 and the following claims. That is,
The support member has a central support portion that extends in the vehicle width direction and supports a central region in the vehicle width direction of the bumper face,
The volume part is formed on the rear side of the central support part,
(Corresponding to claim 2). In this case, the formation position of the volume portion is set to a position corresponding to the center region in the vehicle width direction of the bumper face, which is more preferable for forming the volume of the volume portion as large as possible.

  The introduction path and the intermediate path are formed with the bumper face and the support member, respectively (corresponding to claim 3). In this case, the introduction path and the intermediate path can be formed by effectively using the bumper face and the support member.

  The intermediate path has an eaves part in the middle, and is bent so that the outside air from the volume part passes through the eaves part from below to above and then flows to the intake duct. (Corresponding to claim 4). In this case, it is preferable for further separating water from the outside air after passing through the volume portion.

  A vertical wall portion extending in the front-rear direction is formed between the plurality of drain holes in the bottom wall portion of the volume portion (corresponding to claim 5). In this case, it is preferable for further improving the air-water separation function in the volume portion.

  According to the present invention, water can be more reliably separated from the outside air supplied to the intake duct.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a bumper face, which is an integrally molded product made of synthetic resin. The bumper face 1 has two upper and lower outside air introduction openings 2 and 3 extending in the vehicle width direction in the vehicle width direction central region. Further, end openings 4 for introducing outside air toward the front wheel brakes are formed at the lower ends of the left and right ends of the bumper face 1.

  The bumper face 1 has a rear protrusion 1a that extends short upward and backward in the center region in the vehicle width direction. The rear end edge portion of the rearward projecting portion 1a is smoothly connected to the front end edge of the bonnet 10, and the vehicle width direction length is increased corresponding to the vehicle width direction length of the front end edge of the bonnet 10. Further, the left and right end edges of the rearward projecting portion 1a are smoothly connected to the inner end edges of the left and right fenders 11 in the vehicle width direction. A space surrounded by the bumper face 1, the bonnet 10, and the fender 11 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the rear protrusion 1a is a headlight space 5 in which a headlight (lens) is located.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a grill member 20 and a support member 30 are disposed on the back side of the bumper face 1. The grill member 20 is disposed so as to straddle the upper and lower outside air introduction openings 2 and 3. More specifically, the grill member member 20 has an upper edge portion positioned slightly above the upper edge portion of the upper outside air introduction opening 2 and a lower edge portion of the grill member member 20 being a lower outside air introduction opening. It is located below the lower edge of the part 3.

  The grill member 20 is formed of synthetic resin and has grill portions 20 a and 20 b positioned in the outside air introduction openings 2 and 3 formed in the bumper face 1. Each grille 20a, 20b has a large number of small holes for passing outside air. The upper grill portion 20a has, for example, a shape in which a vertical line portion and a horizontal line portion intersect, and the opening area of each small hole defined by the vertical line portion and the horizontal line portion is relatively large. Has been. Further, the lower grill portion 20b is simply shown in the drawing but has a honeycomb shape, and each of the small holes formed in the honeycomb shape has a relatively small opening area.

  The support member 30 is disposed in the bumper face 1 so as to be positioned in the center region in the vehicle width direction and on the back surface side of the rear protrusion 1a that is long in the vehicle width direction. More specifically, the upper edge portion of the support member 30 is positioned in the vicinity of the rear edge portion of the rear protrusion 1a, and the lower edge portion thereof is positioned in the vicinity of the upper edge portion of the upper outside air introduction opening 2. The vehicle width direction end edge portion is located in the vehicle width direction end edge portion of the rearward projecting portion 1a. Such a support member member 30 increases the rigidity of the rear protruding portion 1a and the vicinity thereof that are easily deformed in the bumper face 1 and that are susceptible to external force from above. And the vehicle width direction edge part of the support member 30 is protruded below so that it may become a position which overlaps with the opening part 2 for external air introduction. The lower edge portion of the support member 30 is arranged so as to overlap the rear of the upper edge portion of the grill member 20.

  In the embodiment, the support member 30 includes a main body portion 30A made of a synthetic resin and a box portion 30B integrated on the back side of the main body portion 30A. The box portion 30B is elongated in the vehicle width direction, and in particular, the central region in the vehicle width direction is partially protruded rearward, and a volume portion having a large volume (large cross-sectional area) described later in this portion. 40 (see FIG. 6).

  In the support member 30, an introduction path 41 and an intermediate path 42 are formed corresponding to the volume portion 40. Each of the introduction path 41 and the intermediate path 42 is configured to cooperate with the bumper face 1 as will be described later, with the support member 30 disposed on the back side of the bumper face 1.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in order to configure the introduction path 41, a first opening 30 a that opens forward is formed on one end side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the volume portion 40 of the support member 30. The first opening 30a extends long in the vehicle width direction, and the end on the outer end side in the vehicle width direction is also opened downward. Further, the inner end of the first opening 30 a in the vehicle width direction is opened to the volume portion 40. Furthermore, the upper part, the lower part, and the rear of the first opening 30a are closed. When the support member 30 is disposed on the back side of the bumper face 1, an introduction path 41 extending in the vehicle width direction in which the front of the first opening 30a is blocked is formed as shown in FIG. The outside air that has passed through the upper outside air introduction opening 2 is introduced into the introduction path 41 from below the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the introduction path 41 and flows toward the volume portion 40.

  In order to constitute the intermediate path 42, a second opening 30 b is formed on the other end side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the volume portion 40 of the support member 30, and a third is formed above the second opening 30 b. An opening 30c is formed. The second opening 30b has an inner end in the vehicle width direction opened to the volume portion 40, while an upper end, a lower side, and an outer end in the vehicle width direction are closed. Further, the third opening 30c is formed as a through hole extending in the front-rear direction, and its upper, lower, inner end in the vehicle width direction, and outer end in the vehicle width direction are closed. And the boundary site | part of the 2nd opening part 30b and the 3rd opening part 30c comprises the substantially horizontal eaves part 30e mentioned later.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the support member 30 is disposed on the back side of the bumper face 1, an intermediate path 42 that is bent up and down by the eaves portion 30 e is formed. That is, as is clear from FIG. 7, the outside air from the volume portion 40 is first introduced into a lower position corresponding to the second opening 30b in the intermediate path 42, and then rises through the front of the eaves portion 30e. The air then flows to a position corresponding to the third opening 30c, flows backward through the third opening 30c, and then flows into the intake duct 50 connected to the rear end of the third opening 30c.

  An opening 42a facing the back side of the bonnet 4 is formed on the upper wall portion of the intermediate path 42 corresponding to the third opening 30c. The opening 42a constitutes an emergency outside air suction port.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of drain holes 45 are formed in the bottom wall portion 40b of the volume portion 40 at intervals in the vehicle width direction. The drain hole 45 is opened forward (see also FIG. 3), and the water passing through the drain hole 45 is dropped and discharged downward. A plurality of vertical wall portions 40a are formed from the bottom wall portion 40b of the volume portion 40 at intervals in the vehicle width direction. Each vertical wall portion 40 a is located between the plurality of drain holes 45. The outside wall flowing through the volume 40 collides with the vertical wall 40a, and the separated water is restricted from flowing toward the intermediate path 42 by the vertical wall 40a. Will be demonstrated more effectively.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a guide portion 51 is formed in the bumper face 1 and the grill member 20 corresponding to the drain hole 45. The guide portion 51 is formed by extending a portion corresponding to the upper edge portion of the upper outside air introduction opening 2 toward the rear, and the rear end thereof is positioned in the immediate vicinity of the drain hole 45. Thus, the ejector effect is exerted near the guide portion 51 by the traveling wind passing through the opening 2 for introducing outside air, and water is actively sucked out from the drain hole 45.

  5 to 7, 61 is a radiator shroud, 62 radiator, 63 is a condenser for an air conditioner, and 64 is an under cover. Reference numeral 65 denotes a bumper reinforcement, and 66 denotes an impact absorbing member attached to the front surface of the bumper reinforcement 65 (for example, a synthetic resin foam material). The support member 30 is attached to the radiator shroud 61.

  FIG. 8 shows a flow until outside air is introduced into the intake duct 50. That is, during traveling, the outside air from the outside air introduction opening 2 is introduced into the introduction path 41 in the vehicle width direction of the introduction path 41, and is introduced from the introduction path 41 into the volume portion 40. In the volume part 40 having a large volume, the flow rate of the outside air is reduced, and new (gas) and water (or snow) in the outside air are separated (gas-water separation). By using the vertical wall portion 40a formed on the bottom wall portion 40b of the volume portion 40, the air / water branching function is more effectively exhibited.

  The outside air from which water has been separated in the volume portion 40 is introduced into the intake duct 51 through the intermediate path 42. However, since the intermediate path 42 is a curved path having the eaves portion 30e, water is also present in this portion. Will adhere to and separate from the surrounding inner wall.

  The water separated by the volume part 40 is discharged from the drain hole 45. Due to the ejector effect using the guide portion 51, the water is effectively discharged from the drain hole 45. In addition, the water separated using the eaves part 30e in the intermediate path 42 falls downward, and finally returns to the volume part 40 and is discharged from the drain hole 45 formed in the bottom wall part. However, a drain hole may be separately formed at the bottom of the intermediate path 42.

  Here, an external air supply passage for cooling may be provided for the battery disposed in the engine room behind the bumper face 1. For example, the recess 30f formed by forming the eaves portion 30e shown in FIG. 7 is connected to the outside air supply duct connected to the battery, and the opening 30g formed at the bottom of the recess 30f is directly connected to the outside air. It can be used as an introduction port. Further, for example, an outside air intake is separately formed immediately after the outside air introduction opening 2 at the end of the support member 30 on the intermediate path 42 side, and this opening is attached to the support member 30, for example. The guide member may be connected to the recess 30f (in this case, the opening 30g is closed). It should be noted that such an outside air supply path for a battery is preferably used only in extreme heat. For this reason, an open / close valve is provided in the outside air supply path to the battery, and the open / close valve is closed in winter. Good.

  Although the embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and appropriate modifications can be made within the scope of the claims. Of course, the object of the present invention is not limited to what is explicitly stated, but also implicitly includes providing what is substantially preferred or expressed as an advantage.

The front view which looked at the bumper face from the front. The back view of FIG. The perspective view which shows a support member. The rear view which looked at the support member from the back side. X5-X5 line equivalent sectional drawing of FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to line X6-X6 in FIG. 1. X7-X7 line equivalent sectional drawing of FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows the flow of external air typically.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1: Bumper face 1a: Back protrusion part 2, 3: Opening part for external air introduction 10: Bonnet 11: Fender 20: Grill member 20a, 20b: Grill part 30: Support member 30A: Main-body part 30B: Box member 30a: 1st Opening (for introduction route configuration)
30b: Second opening (for configuring the lower intermediate path)
30c: Third opening (for upper intermediate path configuration)
30e: eaves part 40: volume part 40a: vertical wall part 41: introduction path 42: intermediate path 50: intake duct 51: guide part (for ejector effect)

Claims (5)

In the front structure of the vehicle including a bumper face provided with an opening for introducing outside air, and a support member disposed on the back side of the bumper face,
The support member is provided with a volume portion for air-water separation in a substantially central region in the vehicle width direction,
The support member is connected to one end side in the vehicle width direction of the volume portion, and is provided with an introduction path for taking in outside air from the outside air introduction opening and introducing outside air into the volume portion,
The support member is connected to the other end side in the vehicle width direction of the volume portion, and is provided with an intermediate path for guiding the outside air in the volume portion to the intake duct,
A plurality of drain holes are formed at the bottom of the volume portion at intervals in the vehicle width direction.
A vehicle front structure characterized by the above. In claim 1,
The support member has a central support portion that extends in the vehicle width direction and supports a central region in the vehicle width direction of the bumper face,
The volume part is formed on the rear side of the central support part,
A vehicle front structure characterized by the above. In claim 1 or claim 2,
The vehicle front structure, wherein the introduction path and the intermediate path are formed by the bumper face and the support member, respectively. In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 3,
The intermediate path has an eaves part in the middle, and is bent so that outside air from the volume part passes through the eaves part from below to above and then flows into the intake duct. The front structure of the vehicle. In claim 1 or claim 2,
A vehicle front structure characterized in that a vertical wall portion extending in the front-rear direction is formed between the plurality of drain holes in the bottom wall portion of the volume portion.

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